Relay



PATENT OFFICE.

EDOUARD VEDOVELLI, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

RELAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1922'.

Application filed July 16, 1920. Serial No. 396,792.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDOUARD VEDOVELLI, acitizen of the Republic of France, residing at Paris, France, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Relays, (for which Ihave filed an application in France December 20, 1918, Patent N 0.524124), of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an apparatus functioning as a relay anddesigned to produce a contact or to effect a mechanical releasing actionwhen an electric current of suitable intensity has passed through it fora certain time.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawing, in whic Figure 1 "is aviewpartly in elevation andpartly in vertical section, and

Fig, 2 shows a modification of a detail.

Fig. 3 1s a sectional view of the line 33, Fig. 1.

The apparatus comprises essentially a solenoid 1 through which theoperating current flows. The current enters through one wire 2 andleaves by way of a small commutator 3 which enables a greater or smallernumber of turns to be cut in. v The turns are distributed in such a waythat the flux produced is always proportional to the intensity of thecurrent and to the number of turns. Under these conditions thecommutator 3 can serve to regulate the intensity at which the control isproduced. A soft iron core l works in the solenoid and is capable ofnumber of ampere-turns is suflicient.

Below the core there is arranged a receptacle 5 of cast iron or othermaterial unattackable by mercury. This receptacle communicates withanother receptacle 6 in which there is arranged a plunger 7 operated bya regulating screw 8. The bottoms of the two receptacles are filled withmercurv so that the screw 8 when rotated enables the level of themercury in the main receptacle 5 to be varied at will the receptacles 5and 6 having a connecting passage 6 through which the mercury flows.Within the interior of the receptacle 5 is arranged a cup 9 of thinsheet iron, fastened to the core by a rigid connecting rod 10. This cupis provided with an opening 11 being attracted when the in its lowerportion and the weight of the unit comprised by the core, the connectingrod and the cup 9 is, greater than the hydrostatic pressure of themercury on the cup so that thelatter is immersed in the mercury, themercury passing into its interior through the opening 11 and rising tothe same level on the inside of the cup as on the outside. The opening11 is capable of being plugged or partially closed by an iron valve 12which is elliptical in cross section at its portion which engages theopening 11; but the valve, owing to its lesser density, tends to floatand is therefore forced downward by a stem or needle 13 on which isfastened a weight 14 slightly in excess of the pressure exerted by themercury 0n valve 12. The opening 11, because of its shape is neverentirely closed by the valve 12, so that when the valve is seated themercury may flow in a small jet or stream from the inside of the cup tothe outside thereofor vice versa.

The operation. is as follows: Under normal conditions, the number ofampere-turns is insuflicient to effect an attraction of the movable coreunit, ,but as the number of turns increases, the core is attracted;however, in order to raise it, it is necessary to dispose of the mercuryin the cup. For this purpose mercury flows out through the part of theopening 11 not closed by the valve 12 and, at a given moment, under thedouble action of the shortening of the lines of force and due to gradualupward movement of the core the diminution of the weight of mercurybeing raised, the core is completely attracted. Hence, for a certainintensity there is a delay in thecomplete attraction, the delay becomingless as the intensity becomes greater. For a certain intensity,attraction is instantaneous; that is, for-an intensity which correspondsto one suflicient to attract the entire core unit comprising the cup andconnected parts. The intensity of the current is controlled by thecommutator 8, the coefficient of instantaneous release by the mercurylevel which is itself-controlled by the plunger 7, and the time by theopening left free at 11, the valve 12 being assumed to be in closedposition. The valve 1213- 14 renders it possible to effect the clownwardmovement of the core unit without delay, the valve 12 being removed fromthe opening 11 by the increased upward pressure or the mercury due tothe release of the weight of the plunger and parts. At this time themercury {lows through the whole opening 11 and thus permits the rapiddownward movement of the cup.

At a certain moment, the core, being undcr the influence of a number ofampereturns, will cease to rise and an equilibrium will exist betweenthe weight of the movable core unit and. the force of attraction.Consequently, it the intensity starts to decrease and drops to normal,the core unit must descend.

The outer part or the cup has been represented as having; a cylindricalshape, but this is not essential; it can even be given a shape such asmodifies at will the shape or the curve traced by taking as abscissasthe times of releasing and as ordinates the intensities. For example, bygiving. the cup the form indicated in Fig. 2, the release will beinitially facilitated, since the layer of mercury 15 is weaker than thelayer 16; and the reverse can be effected.

The armature 4c and the cups 9 rise, as is above stated, when theintensity of the current is increased for a predetermined time and apredetermined current and when they are so raised the upper portion 15of the cup 9 engages at opposite sides with downwardly extending contactpoints 16 of binding posts 1.7 which are mounted in the receptacle 5 andwhich are insulated therefrom as at 18. These binding posts areconnccted to an auxiliary circuit indicated by wires 19 so that when thecup 9 is in a predetermined raised position. the circuit will be closed.

I claim as my invention 1. A relay comprising a solenoid; a re ceptaclefilled to apredetermined level with a dense fluid and located adjacentsaid solenoid: a vessel mounted within said receptacle and secured tothe moving part of the solenoid to be raised thereby when apredetermined current passes through said solenoid, said vessel havingrestricted opening); at its lower enl through which fluid may flow fromthe interior of the vessel to the interior of the receptacle and viceversa,

means within said vessel for enabling the enlargement oi": said. openingwhen the vessel is decending nto the fluid contained in the receptacleto permit a rapid descent of the vessel and. the solenoid part withwhich it is connected; and contacts mounted on said receptacle andadapted to be closed when the vessel is in raised. position.

2. A time controller for an electric circuit closer comprising areceptacle filled to a predetermined level with a dense fluid; a vesselmounted in said receptacle for vertical, movement and having a passageat its lower end whereby the interior of the vessel communicates withthe interior of the receptacle and permitting the flow oi the fluidcontained. in the receptacle to and from the vessel; secured directl tothe vessel for imparting vertical movements thereto; and means withinthe vessel for partially closing; said opening. said means beingeffective when the vessel is ascending to reduce the flow or fluid fromsaid vessel to said receptacle and. being rendered ineffective by anupward thrust imparted thereto by the luid in the receptacle when thvessel is descending to permit a rapid descent of the vessel.

3. A time controller for an electric circuit closer comprising areceptacle filled to a predetermined level with a dense fluid; a vesselmounted in said receptacle for vertical movement and having a passage atits lower end whereby the interior of the vessel communicates with theinterior of the receptacle and permitting the flow of the fluidcontained in the receptacle to and from the vessel; means for partiallyclosing said opening, said means being effective when the vessel isascending to reduce the flow of fluid from said vessel to saidreceptacle and being rendered ineffective when the vessel. is descendingto permit a rapid descent oi? the vessel; and means for adjustablyvarying, the level of the dense fluid in said receptacle.

l. A time controller for an electric circuit closer comprising areceptacle filled to a predetermined level. with a dense fluid; a vesselmounted in said receptacle -for vertical movement and having a passageat its lower end whereby the interior of the vessel. communicates withthe interior of the receptacle and permitting the .low of the fluidcontained in the receptacle to and from the vessel; means tliorpartially closing said opening, said means being elliectivc when thevessel is ascending to reduce the low of fluid from said vessel to saidreceptacle and being rendered ineffect ve when the vessel is descendingto permit a rapid descent of the vessel; a tank for the dense fluidadjacent said receptacle and communi i 1 there with; and a plunger insaid tank for forcing said fluid into the receptacle to increase thelevel. thereof in the receptacle.

5. time controller lcr lectric circuit closer comprising a receptaclefilled to a predetermined level with mercury; a vessel mounted. in saidreceptacle for vertical movement and having a passage at its lower endwhereby the interior of the vessel com municates with the interior ofthe receptacle: and a weighted float located in said vessel and adaptedto partially close said opening when the vessel is ascending in thereceptacle to reduce the flow of mercury through said opening and retardthe upward movement 0 l': the vessel.

tacle; a tank for the mercury adjacent the receptacle and communicatingtherewith; and means for forcing the mercury from the 10 tank into thereceptacles for increasing the level of the mercury in the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDOUARD VEDOVELLI.

